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SHINGLE SPRINGS — Expectations of a tight, competitive intra-county matchup between Oak Ridge and host Ponderosa never materialized as the Lady Trojans, behind a fast start, buried the Bruins 73-30 in Delta River League basketball action Thursday night.
Troy’s relentless backcourt pressure, unselfish play and adept shooting early in the first quarter enabled the El Dorado Hills’ squad to run off 16 straight points to break an early 2-2 tie and coast to victory.
“We knew they played St. Francis in a close game and what they (Bruins) were capable of,” said UC San Diego recruit Haley Anderson. “Our plan was to come out with our usual energy and defensive focus and let our offense follow.”
Anderson finished with 11 points in limited minutes; eight coming in the opening quarter. Ali Bettencourt led all scorers with 19, 10 in the first, while Ponderosa’s high scorer was Ashley Beck with a dozen. Overall, Oak Ridge sank eight, three-pointers, five by Bettencourt who hit on four treys in the first half.
“Oak Ridge is deep and disciplined and we have the utmost respect for their program,” Bruin coach Noel O’Donnell said. “Our girls played hard and didn’t quit but any time you make mistakes against a team like Oak Ridge it will cost you. I was searching for the right combination (lineup) but to be honest they’re (Trojans) just too much for us.”
Ponderosa is not alone in that matter. Thursday the Bruins faced wave after wave of Trojans who kept the scoreboard ticking upward. Ten Oak Ridge players cracked the scoring column compared to five for Ponderosa.
Troy led 23-5 after the first eight minutes and behind two Bettencourt threes, one by Grace Derksen and two buckets by Celeste Vitolas in the second quarter were ahead 42-14 at the half.
Despite Beck’s eight points in the third quarter, the visitors had scoring from Bettencourt, Anderson, Lauren Liebert, Gabby Flores, Shelby Peters and Jenna Ford to lead 59-23 going to the fourth.
Ford’s baseline jumper to beat the shot clock pushed the Trojan lead to 40. Ponderosa, which struggled all evening to find its offensive rythym, received four three throws from Danielle Becker, two from Brooke Sinner and one from Beck.
“We expected a close game and I was pleased our girls came out with energy and discipline right off the bat,” Oak Ridge coach Steve White said. “I like what Ponderosa is doing – I think they have the right approach.”
After Bettencourt and Anderson, Liebert scored eight points; Flores had seven; Ford, Vitolas and Derksen each contributed six; Yumi Drossos and Peters chipped in with four apiece; and Nikki Dow had the game’s first basket.
For the Bruins, Beck had 12 points; Becker, six; Danielle Craft and Sinner five apiece; and Jessica Tempelton had two.
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